The Book of All Books, 2 Tim 3:15-17

2 Tim 3:15-17

The Book of all Books

The one verse people often refer to as a proof text for the uses of scripture are our verses for today. They are 2 Tim 3:16-17. I agree that those verses are very important, but as I have mentioned a number of times, Paul's style of writing or dictating to a secretary or amenuensis help us understand how specific verses fit into the overall context. This section of 2 Tim shows all of the typical styles of the Apostle Paul. Verses 16 & 17 are introduced by the thought about Paul and the effect of the scriptures upon him through the use of them by his mother and grandmother. From that, Paul moves to some more general uses of the holy scriptures. If we put all three verses together, there are five uses. But, the uses don't end there. They continue over into Chapter Four.

The Chapter divisions are not inspired. They are helps for finding references. They were added during the Renaissance and then came in handy during the time after the invention of the printing press. We date that at 1456 or so. That enshrined references into the printed texts. Over the next hundred years or so, the references became standardized in the Western academic world. From the academy they spread to the churches via the published Bibles.

So, the break between 3:17 and 4:1 in 2 Tim is not inspired. It has a logic to it as the subject seems too change from the use of the scriptures to preaching. But, I hope to convince you that the preaching in Chapter Four is a sixth, and perhaps one of the two most important uses of the Word of God by the man of God.

Let's read these three verses in 2 Tim 3:15-17 and then go back to examine the text in order to open up its uses.

2 Tim 3:15-17 and that from childhood you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. 

16 All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness,

17 that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.

Let's examine the uses of the scriptures:

1. The Means of Salvation
2 Tim 3:15 and that from childhood you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. 

Timothy's mother and grandmother taught him the scriptures from his youth. How can I make that claim?

Two steps:

We know: 2 Tim 1:5 when I call to remembrance the genuine faith that is in you, which dwelt first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice, and I am persuaded is in you also.

And, ordinarily faith comes to an individual through the means of preaching: Rom 10:17 17 So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

It is unlikely that Lois and Eunice had their own copy of all the scriptures. The scriptures they would have learned would have been through the ministry of the church. They would have heard the Word of God read publicly, they would have tried their hardest to remember what was read. Perhaps they wrote down what they could--if even they knew how to read and write. It is estimated that less than 2% of the people could do this. The other means intended to help believers like Lois and Eunice to remember the Word was through the preaching of it. The elders may have had access to it. So they proclaimed it for the good of all who came to hear, and we must not forget the secondary benefits of talking about the scriptures heard to others in conversations. It was a means of evangelism in the Early Church. And, here it is more likely than not to have been the method used by God to bring Timothy to faith.

What a wonderful use of the Word of God. And, of course, most of the scriptures they had would have been what we call the Old Testament. That isn't what they called it. To the Early Church it was the Word of God, the Holy Scriptures.

Verse 15 reveals to us one of its uses. It alone is able to make Timothy and any others who are brought to faith wise unto salvation. 

And, Paul is convinced this genuine faith was in him since childhood. Paul believes children can have a legitimate presence and profession of faith. This principle is enscripturated here by the Spirit of God through the Apostle Paul. From Timothy's childhood, he not only had the basic effect of salvation upon him, but a genuine, a real unquestioned, faith. It was as real as any other person with faith.

Thus, the first, and one of the most important uses of the Word of God used wisely in primary and secondary ways, is to make men, women, and even youth and children wise unto salvation.

Even when you discipline your children, use the scriptures. It is much more significant that they have sinned against God, than you. Have them ask God for forgiveness for the sin of disobedience to parents. Remember back in 2 Tim 3 how that very thing is one of the items on the list of what brings about perilous times--if not in their youth, in their adulthood with unsubdued hearts.

2. The Source of the Scriptures

Where do these scriptures come from? What makes them powerful and unique?

16 All Scripture is given by inspiration of God,

It is the image of breathing it out. The scriptures, some say, are God breathed. That is the literal meaning of the Greek word Theopneustos. Theo is the word for God. Thus the study of God is theology. Pneustos means breath or spirit. Thus inspiration is to be God-breathed.

Peter also uses this metaphor, under inspiration of course. He wrote: 2 Peter 1: 19 And so we have the prophetic word confirmed, which you do well to heed as a light that shines in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts; 20 knowing this first, that no prophecy of Scripture is of any private interpretation, 21 for prophecy never came by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit.

It is not the Words of men who created some sort of religion. It is the very revelation of God and ought to be believed for that reason alone. One of the Puritans said it was a love letter to mankind that came from God's own heart. What a beautiful sentiment. We should see it that way.

It is the means of our hearing the truth that brings us unto salvation. Nobody comes to faith in the Lord Jesus Christ without a true knowledge of their sin and need of forgiveness; without a knowledge of God and especially his holiness or moral purity; an understanding that there is nothing we can do to please God on our own; and if we are to be saved, God must work to bring it to pass.

This book is precious because of who breathed it out and the purposes that intended to be accomplished by its use.

But, the uses do not stop with salvation. They continue on after our salvation, after God gives us faith that we might grow in God's grace, that we might be more holy, that we might be sanctified more and more. The next uses of the scriptures are given to that end.

We would not get the way of salvation correct without God's help. People have tried in the past and keep trying to find alternatives in our day. The best and most efficient way to grow in God's grace is the same way the ancients did--by the right uses of the Word of God--the scriptures. The text continues:

And is profitable--these ways are the most profitable among all the possible ways written words might be used.

3. The Value of Scripture in Four Words:

A. for doctrine,

Doctrine is teaching. Doctrines are not always expressed systematically in the Bible. The first practical use of the Bible for believers is to be taught and to learn doctrine. This is the means Paul used in his letters, especially in Romans, an exposition of the gospel based on a lot of OT scriptures and the book of Ephesians that teaches doctrine to correct the problems in the church. These are two examples among many.

Uninformed people say, Doctrine divides. True doctrine is something to unite around. False doctrine causes dissention and disunity. Right doctrine gives us a basis for all we do. A dear friend of mine often says, Everything is mediated by doctrine. If you ask me how do I love my wife, or my children, or my neighbor, or my enemy. My answer will be what the scriptures say, or the biblical doctrine of _____. Everything that touches on our salvation and pursuit of godliness is understood theologically. The importance of doctrine and doctrinal teaching cannot be underestimated. Doctrine always precedes practice. We need to know why we do what we do. Or, we need to know if we are free to do things not negotiated for us in the scriptures. Some things are not addressed other than the basic principles of Christian Liberty. And, many don't understand that. The remedy is to teach the doctrine of Christian liberty.

The second use is….

B. for reproof,

Reproof is contradiction. We must need this grace of contradiction. Our tendency, unless taught rightly and completely in any area is to get it wrong, or at least get off the straight and narrow way. People have justified horrendous things, let me call them sins, in very creative ways. They need to be corrected in some manner. It is for their own good and their growth in grace that God spells out this as the second use of his divine revelation. It isn't me trying to pick on you. What may need to be contradicted in one of our minds or lives is likely needed to be contradicted in the lives of others. Some of those may have only thought about the sins that need to be spoken against; others may have done them; and others still may be engaged in the doing of them. In 25 years, there have been many times people came to me thinking I knew about things going on in their lives that were not public. People have asked if their spouses told on them. It is amazing what guilt can do.

What it ought to do is drive us to the cross of Jesus with repentance pleading for his forgiveness and for the Spirit to help us put our contradicted sins to death. Habits die hard. But is not God all-powerful to help us in these areas. Jesus taught if the hand offends, cut it off, if the eye offends, pluck it out. That is a metaphor to deal with sin quickly and thoroughly before it eats away your Christian life. And speaking pastorally, we have witnessed that very thing even among our small group.

To that is added:

C. for correction,

Not only do we need to have areas of our life contradicted, we need to be taught what to do.

Among other scriptures, this is what Eph 4:21ff is all about. They are contradicted, and then given the correction. This is what not to do, then this is what to do. Listen:

Eph 4: 21 if indeed you have heard Him and have been taught by Him, as the truth is in Jesus: 

22 that you put off, concerning your former conduct, the old man which grows corrupt according to the deceitful lusts, 

23 and be renewed in the spirit of your mind, 

24 and that you put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness. 

Specifics:

25 Therefore, putting away lying, "Let each one of you speak truth with his neighbor," for we are members of one another. 

Put off anger

26 "Be angry, and do not sin": do not let the sun go down on your wrath, 27 nor give place to the devil. 

Put off stealing--a violation of God's Law--put on work

28 Let him who stole steal no longer, but rather let him labor, working with his hands what is good, that he may have something to give him who has need. 

Put off speach corrupted with sin--put on something very different

29 Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers. 

Important Summary--

30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. 

Specifics to be out off:

31Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice. 

Instead:

32 And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God in Christ forgave you.

And finally, we need the scriptures to define what is right and just and kind toward others.

D. for instruction in righteousness,

In all that is right. The foundation of which are the Law of God and the Commands of Christ. We are not free to make up our own way. We are to walk on the straight and narrow. That is God's way. We need to be instructed in righteousness. Affected by our indwelling sin and our unmortified desires, we will go astray. We need the Word of God to call us back. We regularly need the scriptures to be used in harmony with what God has revealed as their proper uses.

Note that is doesn't say anything about that we might feel good or come to have certain emotional experiences. Their place is after we have manifest the fruit of repentance when we see God has granted us repentance and placed us back on the straight and narrow way. That happens when we hear the Word of God used in its proper ways, see ourselves as having been dealt with in those areas--then we bless God's kindness is making us to grow in grace and knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. To see Him being formed in us, if only a little, is a tremendous blessing.

Expect those who climb behind this pulpit to use the scriptures in godly and biblical ways. We should want nothing less. It is not always enjoyable, but God's ways are the best ways to deal with our hidden parts. He knows how to work deep in our souls epitomized as working in our hearts.

What happens?  

4. A Summary of Scripture Uses

17 that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.

I believe the primary application of this verse is to Timothy and other men of God. They are to use these things efficiently and properly in their ministries. But secondarily, like in Timothy's early life, through others for the good of all who hear the Word of God.

Why primarily applied to preachers?

2 Tim 4:1-2 reads, 1 I charge you therefore before God and the Lord Jesus Christ, who will judge the living and the dead at His appearing and His kingdom: 

2 Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching. 

Does anything sound familiar? This is a summary of what Timothy, and all other faithful preachers must do in discharging their ministries.

It is a charge from God to be ordained into the ministry of the gospel of Jesus Christ. He will judge all men--if we rightly understand James 3:1, there is an even stricter judgment for those who would be teachers.

There are many men who do not faithfully execute the ministry in accord with what God has said. Just recently, a prominent emergent pastor proclaimed that we should use the scriptures less and the resurrection more. I was shocked when I read his words. Where is he going to get any information about the doctrine of resurrection in general or the facts of Jesus' resurrection in particular? They are found most authoritatively and inerrantly  on the pages of God's Word. How ridiculous are the directions modern preachers want to go. And there were a lot of people who agreed with him online. Have our preachers lost the ability to think as they follow celebrity preachers?

We need the Word of God. We need the work of God by the Spirit. He accompanies the Word he breathed out to conform us more and more into the image of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Heb 4:12 For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.

The Word of God used by the Spirit of God can do this. It divides between things thought indivisible. It works in those who hear to discern the thoughts and intents of their inner man.

It is not some sort of mind control in the preacher. I have been accused of that. When the Word is used rightly, this is one of the things that happens--God does it and often makes it known to others. Hear and heed the word of God.

James 1:22 Be doers of the Word, not hearers only.

This is only possible if you have faith, if you have been put in Christ, if you have come to see your sin, your need of salvation and God has granted you repentance and faith. Come to the table if you believe in Jesus. Come to feed on him spiritually in your inner man. Thank him for the work he has begun in you and beg with him for even more. It is not only for your good, but that the glory of God might be realized on the earth. For all this we need Him, his Spirit and his work in us through the preaching of the Word of God. Amen!